Elastic Orifices for Pressurized Gas Bearings

The merit of using an elastic orifice compensator in externally pressurized gas bearings is examined. The use of an elastic orifice in a test bearing demonstrates an increase in bearing stiffness over a conventional fixed orifice when compared at a common operating point. This attribute should be welcome wherever externally pressurized bearings are used. In addition, increased bearing stiffness may allow the use of these bearings in applications formerly restricted to pressurized liquid and rolling contact bearings. Information is included to allow construction of working models of these orifices and duplication of experimental results.